Pesi Shroff trained Kiara (China Visit-Blue Ridge) notched up her sixth victory in as many months when she cantered away with The Bangalore City Gold Cup (Grade III), the feature event in Thursday's racing at Bangalore. This race has been very popular in the recent years and the fields have usually been large and competitive. The 2008 edition of this prestigious Cup saw the smallest number of horses facing the starter. The presence of Kiara scared away many top class sprinters at this centre, and only three of them decided to oppose her. Lady One and Aurelian were set to give weight to their younger rivals Mark Of Gibraltar and Kiara. The champion three year old filly was well served by the terms of this race, and she was money-back with the bookmakers. For those who understood form and handicapping, Kiara was a "Racing Certainty". She confirmed this opinion convincingly , and has emerged as a hot favourite to win the Mysore 1000 Guineas in September. Her performance today must be some sort of record in Indian Racing. Kiara has run ten times in a career spanning less than 9 months. She has won six times and placed second on the other four occasions. At the start of today's race, she was rated 102 by the Bangalore handicapper, which happens to be a very rare occurance in the career of a three year old during the month of July. The most important aspect of all this was the fact that she was looking as fresh as a daisy. Kiara is a very special specimen.

Wonder Filly Kiara

The race began with Wayne Smith easing the speedy Lady One into the lead and showing the way to Mark Of Gibraltar and Kiara. Aurelian lost all his chances, when he jumped awkwardly from the gates. Lady One was clear of Kiara as they took the final bend and straightened for home. Christopher Alford was a picture of supreme confidence as he brought his mount alongside the leader, and rode her "hands and heels" to go way from the rest. Considering the state of the going (Penetrometer 5.6), the winner clocked a top class timing. Lady One ran on to finish clear of Mark Of Gibraltar. Christopher Alford has struck a good partnership with Kiara and the two of them seem to understand each other. He has ridden her in all her starts this season. Today's race was supposed to be a formality, and it was accomplished in great style.

The supporting event in the day's card was The Chaitanya Chakram Trophy, a sprint race for maiden three year olds. A runner-up in all his career starts, Kyles Of Bute, was installed as the first favourite. Arnatta, Stunning Grey and Hall Mark were considered to be formidable opponents, and the racegoers were looking forward to a close finish. To the delight of Arjun Mangalorkar's camp, Kyles Of Bute turned out to be far superior to his rivals . The trainer had decided to remove the blinkers from his ward. Appu took him to the front in the early stages of the race, and Kyles Of Bute kept increasing his lead as the race progressed. He finally crossed the winning post almost a distance clear of Stunning Grey and a late finishing Anna's Quest. With this victory, Kyles Of Bute paid a rich compliment to his conquerors in the earlier starts. Stunning Grey ran a forward race and was unlucky to come across such a good horse.

The day started with a Class B race over 2000 metres, the only one of its kind in the current season.The bookmakers ring reflected the thinking of the punters, as there was no clear favourite to win this event. Five horses were almost abreast as they came into the final furlong ,before outsider Attaturk put his neck in front and stayed there to win from Prince Norbert, Royal Filly and Royal Confidence in a close finish.

Another long distance race saw a close finish when Scimitar held on by half a length from Blink and Echoes Of Light. Gleaming Sky was odds-on to win this event. She had won over a similar distance in her last start, and had been heavily penalized for that effort. Some oldtimers were doubtful of her chances as they felt that there were three things against her. She was running on a double promotion in Class, had not raced for almost eight weeks and had put on 20 kilos in weight as compared to her last start. They felt that the odds were against her. Prakash tried to make all the running with Gleaming Sky, but found no reserves when she was challenged and passed by Scimitar,Blink and Echoes Of Light. The last named was unfortunate to lose this race as he was made to do a bit too much in the straight. He was giving chunks of weight to the others and yet finished within a length of the winner.

Irfan Ghatala's Milagro came in for inspired support in a seven furlong race for horses in Class III. He had lost as a hot favourite in his previous start ,when he was given an unenterprising ride by his jockey. Irfan's instructions seemed to be spot-on today, as Vinod Shinde took this gelding to the front and spreadeagled the field to retire an easy winner of this race. Sangini came with a late bid and took the second spot ahead of a heavily whipped Our Lancer. There was much support for Darius trained War Child, but despite strong urgings from Suraj Narredu, this four year old refused to raise a gallop.

The supporters of Darius and Suraj had reason to rejoice, when the duo combined effectively and won the last two races of the afternoon. Calming Influence was held back while Immortal made all the running and led into the home stretch. Suraj released his hold on the filly and she lengthened her strides to go away for an easy victory. There was a lot of money riding on Galloping Blues, but despite Prakash's strong urgings, this four year old finished off the board. Immortal stayed on to be second ahead of a hard ridden Cute Style.

The victory on Axiology was not as easy. Suraj had to ride at his best to goad this horse to overtake Milford and then push him to retain that slender advantage. Jockey Appu tried to reverse the result in the Steward's room, but his objection was thrown out in quick time. Suraj has a strong hold on the Jockey's Championship , and his efforts on Axiology were worthy of a Champion.